Off the back of a career best season, Worcestershire based jockey Charlie Hammond talks about life in the saddle, scaling the Grand National fences and hints at a few horses to follow throughout the Jumps season. 

To see Charlie’s Horses to follow, scroll to the bottom. 

The 26-year-old has started the new season well, riding 13 winners already this term. A third of the way to equaling last season’s career best total of 39 winners, from 260 rides (15% strike rate), Hammond is also seeking more graded success. 

It was a tough start to the new campaign for Hammond as his main employer Dr Richard Newland’s former Grand National winning stable had an outbreak of Equine herpes in the spring.

Hammond said: “Things started off really strongly, I had eight or nine winners in the first month… I thought life was easy.

“All of a sudden Doc’s (Dr Newland) horses got stuck with a bit of equine herpes, that left us struggling for a couple of months and it’s taken a while to get over it. 

“We’ve had a few winners in the past month or so, hopefully a corner has turned. I've managed to nick a few winners in the last couple of weeks, which was nice.” 

Hammond has been at Dr Newland’s Urloxhey stables for eight years and rode Captain Tom Cat to victory in the Grade Two Rising Star’s Novices’ Chase last November. 

As well as Dr Newland, Hammond rides out at other Worcester trainers Max Young and Rob Summers and also travels up to Nick Kent’s Lincolnshire base once a week to ride out. 

Hammond said: “I’m in Dr Newland’s four days a week, he’s local to home and I finish there at half nine so I'd normally go somewhere else after that if i’m not racing. Max Young is local as is Rob Summers. 

“They are smaller yards but you need trainers like them to support you as well as the larger yards, if you didn’t have them you would only be riding on Saturdays and you want to be riding everyday of the week.”

With his career-season boosting his profile, Hammond has expanded his work commitments, riding for a new stables and has recently acquired sponsorship from Oakman Group PLC. 

He said: “I get two days off and I go to the likes of Stuart Edmonds. I've just started going to Jamie Snowden’s as well, which is obviously a nice yard to be attached to.” 

A past conqueror of the Grand National fences, Hammond revealed the plans for Tommy Whittle Chase winner Enqarde, who could be seen soaring over the spruce decorated obstacles in December. 

Hammond revealed: “If everything goes to plan we are going to see Enqarde in the Becher Chase. I’d love to see a bit of Good to Soft ground for him, I think Becher could really suit him. 

“He’s really economical over his fences and he’s nothing stupid either so hopefully it can be the perfect sort of race over a lovely trip for him.” 

Already inscribed on the illustrious roll of honour for scoring in the 2020 Grand Sefton Chase with Aintree patron Beau Bay, Hammond still reflects fondly upon the experience over the iconic fences. 

He said: “I’ve been very lucky, I've sat on one horse Beau Bay that had been round there four times before and finished third in the Grand Sefton the year before and I managed to nick a winner on him. 

“He was amazing, he was a sit and steer job and even at home he was a very good ride over fences. He was a bit keen at home to ride out but at the races he was a lovely horse, he just loved racing. 

“It was a great thrill to ride one for the boss, I'd been with him six years at the time. It just means more when it’s someone you’ve got a connection with, it was great.” 

Charlie’s Horses to Follow 

MAHONES GLORY

6-year-old gelding, Trained by Dr Richard Newland

Profile: Irish import from Denis Gerard Hogan, highly tried in bumpers and maidens in Ireland before winning on stable debut for Dr Newland. Likely to contest novice hurdles before going handicapping over two and a half to three miles. 

Form - 523-1

"I won on this lad at Aintree for Dr Newland, he’s a nice horse for the future. Hopefully we can keep all his elements right and it will go to plan with him. I was really impressed because we thought he might need the run at Aintree, fingers crossed we can get him right."

MICK MAESTRO 

 9-year-old gelding, Trained by Nick Kent

Profile: Consistent handicap hurdler usually seen in the north, three-time winner at Catterick. Fenced well in his spring chasing debut in the spring, room over improvement in that sphere. 

Form - 61103

"Another one of Nick Kent’s. He’s consistent every year and wins his races, he knows how to win - that’s the key. He finished off chasing home Give Me A Moment at Market Rasen and the form of that race is unbelievable, hopefully he can progress this year."

ERNE RIVER 

7-year-old gelding, Trained by Nick Kent

Profile: A progressive chaser last season winning some good novice chases in the north. Fell when really well fancied in Aintree G1 in the spring before finishing third in a G2 at Sandown. 

Form - 11F3

"I love Erne River, you can’t not. We were gutted when he fell at Aintree in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase. 

He was favourite for a Grade One and I might never ride another favourite for a Grade One but we can give it a go and he might be the horse that can take me there. He is a lovely horse."

Ten To Follow Jumps is back! Build your stable here.